Educating Ethical Values

Christian education is learning to leave the right Footprint

Overview Ethics should be shared, simple and positive Trespass..... The ethics of FOOTPRINTS Four different footprints Teaching children ethics in the playground Living within our BOUNDARIES

ETHICS! That’s what WE know about (we don’t expect you to do the right things....) It’s about NOT doing things (it’s fairly negative thing to teach) Ethical debates seem VERY complicated (genetic engineering, allowing someone to die, labour laws...)

Christian Education can teach ethics that... We can all (not just Christians) SHARE Which are POSITIVE (not just negative) choices Which MAKE SENSE (not just to lawyers)

One social ethic... “Forgive us our trespasses.....” Trespass invites us to notice the Footprint we leave on the situation or on another person.....

Try it out! Leave a FOOTPRINT on the person next to you.... (C) Human Ecology Ltd 20117

Make them feel Welcome! (C) Human Ecology Ltd 20118

Make them feel ignored! (C) Human Ecology Ltd 20119

Teaching ethics through FOOTPRINTS

BLUE FOOTPRINTS (C) Human Ecology Ltd TAKE CHARGE

(C) Human Ecology Ltd I AM USING BLUE FOOTPRINTS IF : I am being clear, firm, strong and assertive I decide what I think without being swayed by other people I am choosing to be in charge and take control

JESUS USED BLUE FOOTPRINTS (C) Human Ecology Ltd Clearing the temple Driving out demons Confronting the teachers of the law Protecting the woman caught in adultery, Defending the poor... Telling us GO in HIS name and MAKE disciples

What can I use BLUE FOOTPRINTS for? (C) Human Ecology Ltd Protecting the weak Standing up for what is right Not giving up Making people feel secure TAKE CHARGE

GREEN FOOTPRINTS (C) Human Ecology Ltd STRIVE TO BE OUR BEST

(C) Human Ecology Ltd I AM USING GREEN FOOTPRINTS IF : I feel confident about being a team leader I enjoy being at the front and people watching me I am excited about doing something new I feel motivated to get better and better at something

JESUS USED GREEN FOOTPRINTS (C) Human Ecology Ltd STRIVE TO BE OUR BEST Performing signs and wonders, healings Amazing people with his teaching Calling people to follow him with ALL their heart Telling us to do even greater things!

What can I use GREEN FOOTPRINTS for? (C) Human Ecology Ltd STRIVE TO BE OUR BEST Inspiring others Setting myself goals and achieving them Leading the way courageously

YELLOW FOOTPRINTS (C) Human Ecology Ltd STAND WITH AND SUPPORT OTHERS

(C) Human Ecology Ltd I AM USING YELLOW FOOTPRINTS IF: I accept people just as they are rather than trying to make them change I enjoy doing things as a team rather than on my own I listen to other people’s opinions before deciding what I think, do or say

JESUS USED YELLOW FOOTPRINTS (C) Human Ecology Ltd Building his small group of apostles Listening to people rather than speaking at them Responded to people’s situations Waited patiently... Followed God’s timing Only did what he saw his Father doing

What can I use YELLOW FOOTPRINTS for? (C) Human Ecology Ltd STAND WITH AND SUPPORT OTHERS Looking out for people who are left out Making sure everyone has a chance to speak Helping us work as a team Building trust and good listening

ORANGE FOOTPRINTS (C) Human Ecology Ltd EXPLORE WITH OTHERS

(C) Human Ecology Ltd I AM USING ORANGE FOOTPRINTS if: When do you use ORANGE FOOTPRINTS at school? I want others to feel excited about new possibilities I encourage others to have a go and do their best I enjoy working in a team, but not having to take the lead I don’t mind sharing my ideas with other people who are a bit stuck thinking on their own

JESUS USED ORANGE FOOTPRINTS (C) Human Ecology Ltd To encourage his disciples to take risks Invited people to follow him Drawing people into a shared quest Seeing the potential in people

What can I use ORANGE FOOTPRINTS for? (C) Human Ecology Ltd EXPLORE WITH OTHERS Encouraging an attitude of growth Seeing the gifts in other people and encouraging them Supporting those who are struggling

(C) Human Ecology Ltd RECAP There are FOUR kinds of FOOTPRINT we can leave. Each FOOTPRINT has a different INFLUENCE or IMPACT

What IS ethics then?

(C) Human Ecology Ltd The FOOTPRINT ONE PERSON IS LEAVING ON ANOTHER PERSON

Ethics we can all (not just Christians) SHARE Ethics which are POSITIVE choices Ethics which MAKE SENSE Ethics is learning to use the RIGHT FOOTPRINT at the RIGHT TIME So that we do not trespass

“Forgive us our.... TRESPASSES”

Trespass is when.... We trample over someone else’s ideas, property, feelings, belongings Take more of the land, space, attention, than is ours to take Intrude into parts of another carelessly, thoughtlessly, for selfish gain

Christian ethics teaching doesn’t happen in Chapel but in the Playground You are walking through the playground and you see a group of older children making fun of a younger child. What colour footprint should you use? Your friend is worrying because they don’t think their painting is very good. What colour footprint should you use? There is a new pupil at school. At break he is walking around on his own. What colour footprint should you use? You are asked to work in a group of 3 on a project. Everyone is arguing about who is the leader. What colour footprint should you use?

Children understand ETHICS if they experience what it means “I learned how to use different Footprints, like not always blue. I learned about the consequences of my Footprints.” “You must use different footprints at different times or you could hurt other people.” “I normally use orange Footprints. I like orange but sometimes it can make me act like a servant to others who are stronger.”

BLUE FOOTPRINTS protect the vulnerable. Using them will inform good PROPERTY and WELFARE laws 35(C) Human Ecology Ltd 2011 Playground ethics should become Political Ethics

GREEN FOOTPRINTS value and cost of EXCELLENCE and GROWTH and will inform education, GDP and other TARGETS 36(C) Human Ecology Ltd 2011 Playground ethics should become Political Ethics

YELLOW FOOTPRINTS preserve the value of relationships and belonging. Valuing them should inform our FAMILY laws 37(C) Human Ecology Ltd 2011 Playground ethics should become Political Ethics (C) Human Ecology Ltd 2011

ORANGE FOOTPRINTS FOSTER ASPIRATION and ENTERPRISE. Valuing them should inform our approach to CAPITALISM and TAXATION. 38(C) Human Ecology Ltd 2011 Playground ethics should become Political Ethics

What have we learned? Ethics should be shared, simple and positive The ethics of FOOTPRINTS Four different footprints Teaching children ethics in the playground Ethics of Trespass... This implies living within our BOUNDARIES

Christian education teaches us Our Footprint.....

Tomorrow: how Christian Education teaches us the SPACE on which we leave Footprints

St Irenaeus